Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth Roddy.
Hi Ruth, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up with a neurodiverse sibling who had significant special needs. My parents were incredibly committed to his care and quality of life. We were a close family and went through many things together due to this special circumstance. I grew up around a lot of healthcare professionals. I feel at home in a clinical setting speaking clinically, it all feels incredibly natural. One thing I really admired about my parents was their unwavering sense of humor and commitment to having fun experiences together, which in my work today falls under my client’s “life worth living goals.” This upbringing led me to feel a kindred spirit with those that have had struggles or unusual experiences of all kinds. I find we speak a common language. I am also an insatiably curious person who loves stories and people. I believed and still believe those attributes would make for a lifelong career in this field.
After graduate school, I began working in the eating disorder program at Children’s Health in Plano. That was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I fell in love with the work and met many lifelong professional friends that have had a profound influence on my career. Seeing people struggle so deeply and so physically, but then through treatment be so changed, filled me with such a sense of purpose. I knew immediately that I had found my calling. I went on to work at two other treatment facilities over the next 5 years, ending my time in a leadership role. I am profoundly grateful for what I learned in those settings and that I’ve been able to bring that knowledge to the outpatient world.
I started Roddy Counseling in 2020. Our primary speciality is the treatment of all presentations of eating disorders starting at age 10. I also work with many neurodiverse individuals and am growing a stronger passion for this over time. My relationships with my team, our clients, and our fellow eating disorder professionals are where I have put my focus. Due to the rapport we have established with the eating disorder community, we are able to seamlessly coordinate care with fellow dietitians, psychiatrists, and physicians to ensure our clients are getting the quality of care we aspire to give. We are a small operation, and I like it that way. I want everything we do to be in line with my values of integrity, loyalty, and charitability. As of March 2024, we will be officing with Girls to Women Health and Wellness in McKinney. We are looking forward to partnering more closely with them and being in a space that offers a wide variety of services for our eating disorder clients.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s not always been a smooth road. Low pay at the beginning of my career was tough; I really had to believe in myself and love what I was doing to not let it get to me. I also had the privilege to have financial support to get through those years, and I want to acknowledge that so no one gives me more credit than I’m due. I was 29 before I made anything like a comfortable income on my own.
I’ve also had two children since I’ve started my career. That has both enriched my life experience and also humbled me greatly. Many more rescheduled appointments due to illness or childcare snafu than I would have imagined. My saving grace has been my clients’ and fellow professionals’ enduring kindness and understanding in this season of my life.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Roddy Counseling?
We are a small team of eating disorder professionals. I have had more people working for us before, but right now, it’s myself and another fabulous eating disorder therapist, Anna Doroshuk LPC. We are both eating disorder specialized. I’m most proud of the genuine, strong relationships we’ve built with other providers and with our clients. We have a high retention rate, and I believe this is because of our commitment to them and our strong rapport.
What matters most to you?
Relationships and being in line with my professional ethics and values. I would be nowhere in my life without my relationships of all types. My observation has been the more I’ve leaned into treating people in my life well the better everything gets in ways I couldn’t predict. As far as being in line with my ethics and values, it’s nice to rest easy at night.
Contact Info:
- Website: ruthroddy.com
- Instagram: rroddylpc
Image Credits
Kassie Moore Photography
